Cultural Revolution *What was the Cultural Revolution? The Cultural Revolution was a revolution created by the Red Guards in attempt to bring the peasant to power. Chairman Zedong stopped it in 1968. It was a radical reform in China initiated by Mao Zedong in 1965 and carried out largely by the Red Guard; intended to eliminate counterrevolutionary elements in the government it resulted in purges of the intellectuals and socioeconomic chaos. In 1968, Chinese army imprisons, executes, or exiles most Red Guards. Red Guards close colleges and universities and execute or imprison many intellectuals.
Divided Land *What was the significance of the 38th parallel? The 38th parallel was the border at 38 degrees north latitude between Communist controlled North Korea and Non Communist South Korea. It was created after the end of the Second World War when the Japanese surrendered control of the Peninsula. It cuts Korea almost exactly in half. The North was given to the Soviet Union and the South was given to America. The Korean War came about because the North Koreans wished to invade South Korea and make it communist.
Standoff at the 38th Parallel
"I will defend Korea as I would my own country—just as I would California."
— Gen. Douglas MacArthur
"In my generation, this was not the first occasion when the strong had attacked the weak….Communism was acting in Korea just as Hitler, Mussolini, and the Japanese had acted ten, fifteen, and twenty years earlier. I felt certain that if South Korea was allowed to fall, Communist leaders would be emboldened to override nations closer to our own shores."
— President Harry Truman
In the year 1950, the North Korean army crossed the 38th parallel with soviet support. The United Nations immediately began debates on whether or not to interfere with the war. The Soviet Union made various attempts and pleas to the irrationality of the attacks and the need to ignore this war. After the United States advocated strongly for the prevention of the spread of communism, the United Nations agreed to send in support for the North Koreans. Former World War 2 leader General Douglas MacArthur became the leader of the UN forces while Kim Il Sung led the North Korean forces.
Mig Alley The Korean War was infamous for its controversial use of Air warfare. Near the beginning, the North Koreans used nothing but aged warplanes to fight the UN forces. The UN spent the first several weeks of the war destroying North Korea through vastly superior pilots and technology. Then, in a moments notice, the war complexly changed. The Soviet Union began offering support to the ailing North Koreans, when Soviet fighters from the Far East Russian region began attacking the UN planes. Stalin claimed only to be sending in planes, but not actual pilots. However the experience of the pilots in the difference of several weeks was great enough to indicate trained fighters from a more powerful army. Not to mention the soviet uniforms found on bodies from shot down planes. Russia finally admitted to the existence after the Soviet collapses in the early 1990s. Soviet Mig 15 The Invasion of Inchon The CIA began to send spies into the city several weeks before the attack. These spies collect information about all of the safest spots to land and weakness in the North Korean defenses. In the middle of the summer of 1951, the UN begins a naval bombardment of the city. An aerial bombardment of the city began a few days later. The UN forces enter and take the city of Inchon almost unopposed. The UN forces move south and re-take the capital of Seoul. MacArthur begins a pincer action and pushes North Korean Army south, while the South Korean Army pushes north. The UN and South Korean Army push the North Koreans back over the 38th parallel. Right: General MacArthur observes Naval Bombings from safety of US battleship. Left: Soldiers observe Aerial bombing of Inchon
Battle of Chosin Reservoir
When the UN troops approached the Yalu River under Gen. MacArthur's command, the Chinese quickly retaliated. They sent in 300,000 launched a series of five offensives that pushed the UN back across the 38th parallel and then some. The Chinese began their offensives at an area called the Chosin resovoir. This was a reservoir located in North Korea along the Yalu River. The reservoir quickly became a battleground between the startled marines in that area and the invading Chinese. After 16 bloody days of fighting, the decided on a tactical retreat from North Korea in an attempt to survive the attacks. The Chinese forces quickly followed, using infamous stealth tactics to push the UN south for the next several months. The Chinese even held Seoul, the capital of South Korea under occupation. The UN and especially Gen. MacArthur were greatly distraught by this change of events. MacArthur's original plan was to remove communist forces from North Korea and be home by Christmas. Instead, the war had just been extended for another two, long, bloody, and gruesomely violent years.
Battle map of the Chosin (Changjin) Reservoir
The Removal of General MacArthur
"We are trying to prevent a Third World War, not start one".- President Harry Truman
Throughout the course of the war, two men fought out political battles for hopes of their say in the UN war strategy. These two men were Gen. Douglas MacArthur and President Harry Truman. MacArthur had made some of the most costly mistakes of the war due to not listening to Truman. Truman, who was only focused on removing the communist threat from South Korea, constantly fought MacArthur's aggressive leadership. MacArthur believed the focus of the war was to remove communism from Korea as a whole. In doing this, MacArthur went against a direct order from Truman, which basically stated that under no circumstances should North Korea be invaded. MacArthur, ignored this and began his push north, at this point, he had angered the Chinese and had forced them into battle, as seen above. His solution to his problem was to launch a nuclear strike at China, thus crippling their war effort. Truman saw the potential to this leading to an all out nuclear war, and quickly removed MacArthur from power. The Stalemate
After the initial quick seizures and amazing progress of the Korean War went on for the next two years. The stalement was infamous for the violence and few changes. The lands gained both competing armies would differ in only yards or in some cases, inches from where it had been for the past several weeks. The death of thousands of soldiers from both sides made up these two years. It would not end until the signing of the armistice in 1953. Soliders try to survive the freezing Korean winter The End of The War and the consequences
"I like to believe that people in the long run are going to do more to promote peace than our governments. Indeed, I think that people want peace so much that one of these days governments had better get out of the way and let them have it." -Dwight Eisenhower
Dwight Einsenhower became Truman's successsor as United States President to Einsenhower in winter of 1953. After Eisenhower visited Korea and witnessed the horrible destruction and chaos of the stalemate, he called for an immediate end to the war. In summer of 1953, a cease fire was signed and a new border was created. Syngman Rhee strongly disagreeded with the new agreement. He believed that North Korea should be strongly punished. The Republic of South Korea was left completely out of the agreement since Rhee refused to sign it. This border was only a few miles mile off of the original border at the 38th parallel. The North Koreans and South Koreans still held high feelings of animosity towards one another. Syngman Rhee eliminated thousands of suspected "communists" in South Korea under fears of a rebellion. One South Korean executor recalls "Even now, I feel guilty that I pulled the trigger" when asked to look back on the killings he was forced to commit under Rhee's paranoia.
Important People and Events *General Douglas MacArthur-Leader of the UN army and caused the surprise attack that pushed the North Koreans out of South Korea. He also attempted to send a nuclear attack on China which got him removed from power.
*The Cultural Revolution-A major uprising led by the Red Guards, the goal was to establish equality between the peasants and workers. Although it was inspired by Mao Zedong, he destroyed this after it lost approval
*The Red Guards-A group of youths who went around and closed universities and colleges. They were led and inspired directly by Mao Zedong. After Chairman Zedong stopped approving of the cultural revolution, they were all executed.
*Chairman Mao Zedong-Ruthless chairman who wanted to attack the UN as soon as they crossed the 38th parallel.
*United Nations- An International organization formed after World War Two, their goal was to achieve world peace and better the human society. They invaded North Korea under the United States' suggestion. Their original goal was to assist the Republic of Korea Army reclaim lost land south of the 38th parrael.
*President Harry Truman-President most of the Korean War and Commander and Chief of the UN's army. He got into political battles with McArthur and was the one who removed him.
*Kim IL Sung-Leader of North Korea during the Korean War, father of Kim Jung Il who is the current leader of North Korea. He was extremely angered by the results of World War 2 and grealty wished to gain more land for communism. His goal was to unite all of Korea under his communist banner.
*Korean People's Army- The North Korean army. They led the communist force to capture and claim South Korea. If they had succeeded, it is believed they would have begun taking many of the other smaller nations around, eventually leading to a communist world.
*People's Volunteer Army-A volunteer army used by the Chinese government during the Korean War. It was volunteer in a effort to prevent a official war with the United States.
*Joseph Stalin-A man who was eager to spread Communism through out the world. Hoping to one day crush Capitalism. He tried to get the UN to not help to South Koreans. He was believed to have sent Soviet soldiers into North Korea.
*Syngman Rhee-In 1948 Rhee became the first president of South Korea. He soon developed a reputation for authoritarian rule and his political opponents were quickly silenced. After the war, he excuted thousands of suspected communists under fears of a second attack and potential rebellion.
South Korean leader, Syngman Rhee
Works Cited:
*Beck, Roger B., Linda Black, Larry S. Naylor, Phillip C. Naylor, and Dahia Ibo Shabaka. "Wars in Korea and Vietnam." Modern World History Patterns of Interaction. Evanston, Ill.: McDougal Littell, 2005. 542-44. Print.
*Deane, Hugh. The Korean War. San Francisco, California: China Books & Periodicals Inc, 1999. Print
Cultural Revolution
*What was the Cultural Revolution?
The Cultural Revolution was a revolution created by the Red Guards in attempt to bring the peasant to power. Chairman Zedong stopped it in 1968. It was a radical reform in China initiated by Mao Zedong in 1965 and carried out largely by the Red Guard; intended to eliminate counterrevolutionary elements in the government it resulted in purges of the intellectuals and socioeconomic chaos. In 1968, Chinese army imprisons, executes, or exiles most Red Guards. Red Guards close colleges and universities and execute or imprison many intellectuals.
Divided Land
*What was the significance of the 38th parallel?
The 38th parallel was the border at 38 degrees north latitude between Communist controlled North Korea and Non Communist South Korea. It was created after the end of the Second World War when the Japanese surrendered control of the Peninsula. It cuts Korea almost exactly in half. The North was given to the Soviet Union and the South was given to America. The Korean War came about because the North Koreans wished to invade South Korea and make it communist.
Standoff at the 38th Parallel
— Gen. Douglas MacArthur
— President Harry Truman
In the year 1950, the North Korean army crossed the 38th parallel with soviet support. The United Nations immediately began debates on whether or not to interfere with the war. The Soviet Union made various attempts and pleas to the irrationality of the attacks and the need to ignore this war. After the United States advocated strongly for the prevention of the spread of communism, the United Nations agreed to send in support for the North Koreans. Former World War 2 leader General Douglas MacArthur became the leader of the UN forces while Kim Il Sung led the North Korean forces.
Mig Alley
The Korean War was infamous for its controversial use of Air warfare. Near the beginning, the North Koreans used nothing but aged warplanes to fight the UN forces. The UN spent the first several weeks of the war destroying North Korea through vastly superior pilots and technology. Then, in a moments notice, the war complexly changed. The Soviet Union began offering support to the ailing North Koreans, when Soviet fighters from the Far East Russian region began attacking the UN planes. Stalin claimed only to be sending in planes, but not actual pilots. However the experience of the pilots in the difference of several weeks was great enough to indicate trained fighters from a more powerful army. Not to mention the soviet uniforms found on bodies from shot down planes. Russia finally admitted to the existence after the Soviet collapses in the early 1990s.
The Invasion of Inchon
The CIA began to send spies into the city several weeks before the attack. These spies collect information about all of the safest spots to land and weakness in the North Korean defenses. In the middle of the summer of 1951, the UN begins a naval bombardment of the city. An aerial bombardment of the city began a few days later. The UN forces enter and take the city of Inchon almost unopposed. The UN forces move south and re-take the capital of Seoul. MacArthur begins a pincer action and pushes North Korean Army south, while the South Korean Army pushes north. The UN and South Korean Army push the North Koreans back over the 38th parallel.
Battle of Chosin Reservoir
When the UN troops approached the Yalu River under Gen. MacArthur's command, the Chinese quickly retaliated. They sent in 300,000 launched a series of five offensives that pushed the UN back across the 38th parallel and then some. The Chinese began their offensives at an area called the Chosin resovoir. This was a reservoir located in North Korea along the Yalu River. The reservoir quickly became a battleground between the startled marines in that area and the invading Chinese. After 16 bloody days of fighting, the decided on a tactical retreat from North Korea in an attempt to survive the attacks. The Chinese forces quickly followed, using infamous stealth tactics to push the UN south for the next several months. The Chinese even held Seoul, the capital of South Korea under occupation. The UN and especially Gen. MacArthur were greatly distraught by this change of events. MacArthur's original plan was to remove communist forces from North Korea and be home by Christmas. Instead, the war had just been extended for another two, long, bloody, and gruesomely violent years.
The Removal of General MacArthur
Throughout the course of the war, two men fought out political battles for hopes of their say in the UN war strategy. These two men were Gen. Douglas MacArthur and President Harry Truman. MacArthur had made some of the most costly mistakes of the war due to not listening to Truman. Truman, who was only focused on removing the communist threat from South Korea, constantly fought MacArthur's aggressive leadership. MacArthur believed the focus of the war was to remove communism from Korea as a whole. In doing this, MacArthur went against a direct order from Truman, which basically stated that under no circumstances should North Korea be invaded. MacArthur, ignored this and began his push north, at this point, he had angered the Chinese and had forced them into battle, as seen above. His solution to his problem was to launch a nuclear strike at China, thus crippling their war effort. Truman saw the potential to this leading to an all out nuclear war, and quickly removed MacArthur from power.
The Stalemate
After the initial quick seizures and amazing progress of the Korean War went on for the next two years. The stalement was infamous for the violence and few changes. The lands gained both competing armies would differ in only yards or in some cases, inches from where it had been for the past several weeks. The death of thousands of soldiers from both sides made up these two years. It would not end until the signing of the armistice in 1953.
The End of The War and the consequences
Dwight Einsenhower became Truman's successsor as United States President to Einsenhower in winter of 1953. After Eisenhower visited Korea and witnessed the horrible destruction and chaos of the stalemate, he called for an immediate end to the war. In summer of 1953, a cease fire was signed and a new border was created. Syngman Rhee strongly disagreeded with the new agreement. He believed that North Korea should be strongly punished. The Republic of South Korea was left completely out of the agreement since Rhee refused to sign it. This border was only a few miles mile off of the original border at the 38th parallel. The North Koreans and South Koreans still held high feelings of animosity towards one another. Syngman Rhee eliminated thousands of suspected "communists" in South Korea under fears of a rebellion. One South Korean executor recalls "Even now, I feel guilty that I pulled the trigger" when asked to look back on the killings he was forced to commit under Rhee's paranoia.
Watch Korean War Ends at EncycloMedia.com
Important People and Events
*General Douglas MacArthur-Leader of the UN army and caused the surprise attack that pushed the North Koreans out of South Korea. He also attempted to send a nuclear attack on China which got him removed from power.
*The Cultural Revolution-A major uprising led by the Red Guards, the goal was to establish equality between the peasants and workers. Although it was inspired by Mao Zedong, he destroyed this after it lost approval
*The Red Guards-A group of youths who went around and closed universities and colleges. They were led and inspired directly by Mao Zedong. After Chairman Zedong stopped approving of the cultural revolution, they were all executed.
*Chairman Mao Zedong-Ruthless chairman who wanted to attack the UN as soon as they crossed the 38th parallel.
*United Nations- An International organization formed after World War Two, their goal was to achieve world peace and better the human society. They invaded North Korea under the United States' suggestion. Their original goal was to assist the Republic of Korea Army reclaim lost land south of the 38th parrael.
*President Harry Truman-President most of the Korean War and Commander and Chief of the UN's army. He got into political battles with McArthur and was the one who removed him.
*Kim IL Sung-Leader of North Korea during the Korean War, father of Kim Jung Il who is the current leader of North Korea. He was extremely angered by the results of World War 2 and grealty wished to gain more land for communism. His goal was to unite all of Korea under his communist banner.
*Korean People's Army- The North Korean army. They led the communist force to capture and claim South Korea. If they had succeeded, it is believed they would have begun taking many of the other smaller nations around, eventually leading to a communist world.
*People's Volunteer Army-A volunteer army used by the Chinese government during the Korean War. It was volunteer in a effort to prevent a official war with the United States.
*Joseph Stalin-A man who was eager to spread Communism through out the world. Hoping to one day crush Capitalism. He tried to get the UN to not help to South Koreans. He was believed to have sent Soviet soldiers into North Korea.
*Syngman Rhee-In 1948 Rhee became the first president of South Korea. He soon developed a reputation for authoritarian rule and his political opponents were quickly silenced. After the war, he excuted thousands of suspected communists under fears of a second attack and potential rebellion.
Works Cited:
*Beck, Roger B., Linda Black, Larry S. Naylor, Phillip C. Naylor, and Dahia Ibo Shabaka. "Wars in Korea and Vietnam." Modern World History Patterns of Interaction. Evanston, Ill.: McDougal Littell, 2005. 542-44. Print.
*Deane, Hugh. The Korean War. San Francisco, California: China Books & Periodicals Inc, 1999. Print
*EncycloMedia. Web. 05 May 2010. <http://www.encyclomedia.com/video-korean_war_ends.html>. (video)
*Kim, Joungwon. Divided Korea. Elizabeth, New Jersey: Hollym International Corp., 1997. Print
*Hickey, Michael. The Korean War. Woodstock, New York: The Overlook Press, 1999. Print
*Kaufman, Burton. The Korean Conflict. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1999. Print
*Trueman,Chris."CulturalRevolution."http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/cultural_revolution.htm
*"Korean War." Us army center of military history. National Guard Heritage Series, jan 8 2002. Web. 13 May 2010. http://www.history.army.mil/photos/Korea/kor1951/kor1951.htm>.
*"Korean War History." Wikimedia. Wikimedia, March 17 2010. Web. 13 May 2010. <http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/Korean_dmz_map.png >.
*Library Thinkquest. Oracle Education Foundation , August 15 2008. Web. 14 May 2010. <http://library.thinkquest.org/26469/images/cult02.jpg>
*United Nations. Web. 12 May 2010. <http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/maplib/images_maplib/unflag.gif>.
*Tparents. Tparents, April 26 2010. Web. 14 May 2010. http://www.tparents.org/Library/Religion/Cta/Korea-J/rhee-hod.jpg>.
*Shmoop Editorial Team. "The Korean War." Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 13 May 2010.http://www.shmoop.com/korean-war/.